VBP+ certification is about demonstrating the good management practices in place on a beef cattle operation and having the knowledge and records to support them.
The VBP+ Standard outlines the knowledge, practices and records beef producers are expected to have in place to meet program requirements. For producers considering certification, understanding the Standard is a good place to start.
What Is the VBP+ Standard?
Think of the VBP+ Standard as a guidebook, setting out the knowledge, practices and records beef producers need to have on their operation to become certified.
VBP+ uses on-farm assessments to verify certified operations are meeting program standards. It is through these standards that auditors can confirm an operation is following the guidelines and meeting program requirements. On-farm assessments take place every five years, while interim record reviews and self-assessments provide producers with tools to stay on track and maintain ongoing compliance.
The goal isn’t simply to identify whether a practice is in place or a record exists. The assessment process can also identify areas where an operation is meeting expectations and where there are opportunities for improvement.
The VBP+ Standard covers 11 subject areas of beef production:
- Animal Care and Welfare
- Animal Health
- Biosecurity and Disease Prevention
- Emergency Response and Preparedness
- Environmental Stewardship and Conservation
- Feeding Practices and Nutrition
- Medicated Feeds
- Transportation and Fitness for Transportation
- Vulnerable, Distressed and High-Risk Animals
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Leadership and Community
At first glance, that may seem like a long list. But the subject areas include expectations that align with many of the practices producers already include in running a successful and sustainable beef operation.
What Does the Standard Look Like on Farm?
The Standard gets more practical when you explore individual expectations.
For example, within the subject area Animal Care and Welfare, producers are expected to use handling methods that minimize stress through appropriate equipment, trained personnel, minimal physical contact and suitable footing and lighting.
This could mean assessing handling facilities, considering how cattle move through them and ensuring everyone working cattle understands and practices low-stress handling techniques.
Under Feeding Practices and Nutrition, one requirement is to provide feed in the proper quantity and quality to meet the cattle’s nutritional requirements.
On farm, this could include feed testing, feed planning and ensuring the specific class of cattle on your operation has access to what they need.
Similarly, environmental stewardship can also involve practical management decisions. Under Environmental Stewardship and Conservation, one criterion is having a water management plan in place to conserve, preserve and improve water sources on the operation.
This could include planned water testing and reducing access to wetlands to preserve riparian areas and natural water sources.
The VBP+ Standard also recognizes areas of farm management that extend beyond day-to-day operations. Included are subject areas that reflect the broader responsibilities and practices involved in beef farming and ranching.
Under Coaching and Mentoring, producers and farm workers are encouraged to engage in learning and training opportunities that match operational requirements and goals. On your operation, this may look like pesticide safety training for farm personnel or completing a record-keeping course.
Continuous learning is a core part of VBP+. A range of science-based resources, developed with support from the Beef Cattle Research Council (BCRC), are available to encourage adoption of beneficial management practices, continuous improvement and innovation across Canada’s beef industry.
These examples highlight an important part of the VBP+ Standard – there is often more than one way to meet the expectations. Certification isn’t about adopting one specific management system. Rather, the VBP+ Standard outlines expectations that can be met through science-based practices that fit your individual operation.
Certification Is a Starting Point, Not an End Point
Whether preparing for an assessment or simply looking for ways to strengthen on-farm practices, reviewing the VBP+ Standard is a useful starting point.
The VBP+ Standard webpage provides an overview of the expectations across subject areas along with links to additional resources.
For full details, the downloadable VBP+ Standards is a comprehensive reference for the program.
A Common Foundation
While recognizing producers may use different management approaches to meet the Standard’s expectations, VBP+ Certification includes foundational requirements that apply across operations.
Certified producers:
- Have an active veterinarian-client-patient relationship (VCPR).
- Ensure all cattle are properly identified and health records are kept.
- Maintain documentation for activities that impact food safety and quality.
- Demonstrate knowledge and commitment to animal welfare.
- Understand and implement environmental stewardship practices.
These foundational requirements provide the basis for the more specific practices and expectations outlined throughout the VBP+ Standard.